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Local News

  • LaFollette city council discusses firing a public works employee

    Monday, the LaFollette City Council addressed hiring a police officer, promoting a police officer and terminating a public works employee.
    Police Department
    The council members discussed promoting LaFollette Police Officer Stephen Wallen to detective. If promoted, Wallen’s salary will increase by $1,500.
    “He’s been doing a good job,” LaFollette Police Chief Jimmy Jeffries said.

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  • LaFollette City Council to interview candidates for city administrator

    The LaFollette City Council will soon interview applicants for city administrator.
    The position became available when Cade Sexton resigned in January. The city council budgeted $70,000 for hiring a full-time administrator. Twenty people submitted resumes before the March 8 deadline.
    Monday, the mayor and council members discussed interviewing candidates for the job.
    “I think we should look at our local people,” Mayor Mike Stanfield said. “There’s no sense calling people out of California.”

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  • Campbell County observes Easter with services

    Families and churches in Campbell County are preparing to celebrate Easter with events and services from now until Sunday.
    “Easter is the (premier) event of the year,” said Father Joe Campbell, Priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Catholic Church.
    During Easter, Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
    “Without the resurrection, we would have no church,” Campbell said.
    Salvation is possible because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, he said.

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  • Caryville police chief demoted

    Despite a spotless record, Johnny Jones no longer serves as chief of the Caryville Police Department. 

    On March 21, Mayor Chris Stanley and Vice Mayor Glenn Smith told Jones he was being demoted. The performance correction notice presented to Jones listed policy/procedure violation, performance and behavior/conduct infraction as the reason for the demotion.

    Stanley declined to elaborate during a phone interview on Monday. 

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  • Commission seeks screen to 'Sunshine Law'

     Citing burdens and restrictions, county commissioners are advocating for an amendment to the state Sunshine Law, to allow greater private interaction between local policy makers.

    “I think the law is too burdensome,” Commissioner Bob Walden said Friday. “I think the law is too restrictive for two people to have a conversation.”

    The Sunshine Law—also known as the Open Meetings Act—was passed in 1976 to ensure public agencies operate in transparency and do not conduct business in private.  

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  • Son, mother plead not guilty to rape of Indiana teenager

     A son and mother who allegedly took a teenager from her Indiana home earlier this month, pleaded not guilty Monday to aggravated statutory rape charges. 

    James Slagle was arrested March 6 at the South 17th Street home where he lived with his mother, Debra Saunders, after police learned a 17-year-old female from Indiana was at the residence, according to the police report.

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  • POLICE: Man stashed $30k in coffee cans; drugs found in pickle and Mason jars

     Operation Spring Cleaning was in the works for a year when it culminated Monday with the arrest of nearly 40 people — including one man who allegedly buried more than $30,000 in coffee cans and hid marijuana in various pickle and Mason jars. 

    “Through a series of strategic undercover narcotics buys and on-going undercover investigations we were able to obtain 63 indictments from the grand jury,” said Sheriff Robbie Goins. “All that was left was to start making the arrests.”

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  • Katelyn Norman air-lifted to Children's Hospital of East Tennessee

    Katelyn Norman, who is struggling with cancer, has been air-lifted to Children's Hospital of East Tennessee.

    "Light the Night for Kate" is still slated to go on as planned, according to the Campbell County Sheriff's Department. We'll update with more information as it becomes available.

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  • Jellico gives up right-of-ways

     JELLICO—Officials here abandoned two right-of-ways and another is on the chopping block.

    Davant Street between Sunset Trail and S. Queener Avenue and Fifth Avenue between S. Main Street and Hurst Avenue have been relinquished to the adjoining property owners. 

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  • Out of the shadows: Group hopes to heal victims of domestic violence

     The Family Services Center offers a support group for victims of domestic violence. The program is aimed to educate and help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or dating violence.

    “What we’re hoping to offer for the victims,” Nancy Morton-Bright said. “(Is) education for the victims, information, resources and support.”

    Morton-Bright, a trained crises advocate with the family services center, will lead the group.

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